Continuing unrest in Egypt sent shock waves through stock markets as far away as Japan. In Tokyo, benchmark gauges fell to their lowest levels so far this year, dragged down by negative sentiment about companies doing business in the Middle East. Investors around the world headed towards less risky assets as Egyptian anti-government protests and the threat of violence escalated. "The market saw more uncertainty emerging, and we are seeing moves out of risky assets after the unrest in Egypt," an equity manager from Nikko Cordial Securities told Japan Today.

Among Japanese stocks worst affected were Chiyoda Corp., which builds and maintains industrial plants, including oil refineries. The company slumped 2.5%. JGC Corp., another industrial plant firm that counts on the Middle East for more than 30% of its revenue, slid 0.5%.

Nissan was hit hard, falling 2.2% after shutting down its factory in Egypt. Other carmakers also closed lower with Mazda, which only just inked a deal with Egypt's GB Auto to distribute vehicles there, according to just-auto.com, plunging 3.2%. Honda slid 1.4% and Isuzu declined 0.5%, while Toyota managed a 0.3% gain.

In Hong Kong, property companies stumbled with Li Ka-Shing's Cheung Kong plunging 2.8%. Li-Ka Shing's empire spreads far beyond Asia. In London, he's got plans to convert a funky old power station in Chelsea Harbour into a luxury residential and retail development, much to the consternation of local residents who see the ancient structure as a landmark in the vein of the nearby Battersea Power Station, which was featured on the cover of Pink Floyd's Animals album and in the Beatles movie, Help! -- not to mention its location on a small street with limited access and parking. Hutchison Whampoa, another Li Ka-shing company, ended the day down 2.4%.

Other Hong Kong real estate firms also fell, with Sino Land spiraling 2%, New World Development off 1.2% and Henderson Land down 0.6%. Hang Lung, meanwhile, managed a 0.7% gain.